Vaginal tampon and applicator



April 13, 1965 Fig. .1

J. R. G. PEARMAN 3,1 77,872

VAGINAL TAMPON AND APPLICATOR Filed Nov. 25, 1962 Figz/ Fig. 7

Jizmes R GPearman INVENTOR.

BY fiwdd mlwwf W United States Patent 3,177,872 VAGINAL TON ANDAPPLICATOR James R. G. Pearman, Kingsport, Tenn., assignor to EastmanKodak Company, Rochester, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Nov.23, 1962, Ser. No. 239,682 4 Claims. ((11. 128-263) This inventionrelates to articles of manufacture adapted particularly to absorb andretain body fluids. More particularly, this invention relates to tamponsfor use in body cavities to absorb and retain body fluids. Tampons andlike members have been prepared from synthetic resin filaments.Heretofore, the use of synthetic resin filaments has not proved entirelysatisfactory owing to the relatively poor flu-id absorption and fluidretention properties of the filaments employed.

This invention is directed to the manufacture of tampons and likeabsorbent articles from synthetic resin filaments having a specific andcritical cross-section whereby the resulting articles have substantiallyimproved fluid absorption and fluid retention properties.

For a complete understanding of this invention reference is made to thefollowing detailed description and drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in cross-section of a synthetic fiber employed in thisinvention,

FIG. 2 is a view in cross-section of a fiber to be employed in thisinvention,

FIG. 3 is a view in cross-section of another type of fiber that can beemployed in this invention,

FIG. 4 is a view of a plurality of continuous filaments tied together attheir mid-point by a cord or string,

FIG. 5 is a view in perspective of a device embodying the improvedtampon of this invention,

FIG. 6 is a view in cross-section of the device shown in FIG. 5,

FIG. 7 is a view in cross-section of a standard fiber derived bysolution spinning a synthetic resin through circular orifices, and

FIG. 8 is a view in cross-section of a standard fiber derived by meltspinning a synthetic resin through circular orifices.

In accordance with this invention it has been determined that tamponsprepared from synthetic resin fibers having a specific and criticalcross-sectional shape have substantially improved absorbent and fluidretaining properties. The synthetic resin filaments employed in thisinvention are of a cross-section such that the fiber has substantiallymore surface area than the fibers used heretofore in preparing tampons.Furthermore, the fibers of this invention have at least one relativelysmall cavity running generally lengthwise of the fiber which retain bodyfluid entrapped therein during use of the tampon.

Fibers or filaments that can be used in carrying out this invention areshown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 3 of the drawing. Referring to FIG. 1of the drawing there are shown filaments 10 which have what is referredto in the art as a C-shape cross-section. In FIG. 2 of the drawing thereis shown a modified form of C-shaped cross-section fibers I2; and inFIG. 3 of the drawing there are shown fibers 14 having what is referredto in the art as an S-shape cross-section. Synthetic resin fibers of thetype shown in FlG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 3 of the drawing are well knownin the art and are available commercially.

In preparing the tampon of this invention it is preferred to employsynthetic resin filaments of continuous length; however, staple lengthfibers can be employed if desired. The synthetic resin filaments can beprepared by well known solution spinning methods or by well known meltspinning processes. The method employed will depend primarily on thetype of resin employed in "ice manufacturing the fibers. Thus, forexample, cellulose acetate filaments can be prepared easily by solutionspinning methods while polyamide and polyester resins are more easilyformed into fibers by melt spinning methods.

This invention is not limited to the specific C-shape cross-sectionfilaments shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 of the drawing, these showingsbeing illustrative only. Thus, the cross-section of FIG. 1 can be moreopen and approach the cross-section of a U while the cross-section ofFIG. 2 can be a flatter cross-section, that is, the fiber will resemblea ribbon with a cavity running generally lengthwise thereof.

Fibers having C-shape cross-sections and S-shaped cross-sections can beprepared from the various synthetic resins commonly employed in themanufacture of synthetic resin filaments of standard cross-section.Examples of such resins include the polyesters such as polyethyleneterephthalate and the polyester derived by the condensation oftcrephthalic acid and 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol; the polyamides such ashexamethylene adipamide (nylon 66), hexamethylene sebacamide (nylon 68),and polycaprolactam (nylon 6); viscose; the organic acid esters ofcellulose such as cellulose acetate, cellulose propionate, cellulosebutyrate, cellulose triacetate, cellulose acetate butyrate, andcellulose acetate propionate; the vinyl-type resins such, for example,as the polymer derived from vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate;acrylictype resins such, for example, as the copolymer of vinyl chlorideand acrylonitrile, and polyacrylonitrile; and the polyolefins such, forexample, as polyethylene, polypropylene, and poly-l-butene.

The synthetic resin filaments employed in this invention will preferablybe of about two to five denier per filament. However, the denier of thefilaments can be from about 0.1 to 10 or higher if desired.

In preparing the tampons of this invention it is preferred to employ aplurality of continuous filaments in the form of a tow. The number offilaments or ends in any particular tow used in this invention can bevaried over a relatively wide range, and will depend to a large extentupon the denier of the individual filaments of which the tow iscomprised, and upon the diameter of the tampon to be prepared therefrom.Thus, for example using a filament having a denier of about 5, a towcomprised of about 20,000 filaments can be employed satisfactorily.Using filaments having a denier of about two, tow comprised of as manyas about 500,000 filaments can be employed satisfactorily. It has beendetermined, however, that when filaments having a denier of from abouttwo to about five are employed in carrying out this invention, that thetow can be comprised of from about 30,000 to about 200,000 filamentswith highly satisfactory results.

The tow can be, and preferably, is employed in the crimped condition.Crimping of the tow by well known processes is accomplished preferablyprior to its use in the manufacture of tampons of this invention. Thenumber of crimps per inch of tow can vary from about 1 to 2 per inch andup to about 20 to 30 per inch. Various types of well known crimpingdevices can be employed for crimping the tow. Examples of satisfactorycrimping devices are described in Patents 2,090,669; 2,311,174;2,505,618; 2,698,970; 2,734,228; 2,734,229; 2,734,251; 2,740,992; and2,749,233. Most of the commercial crimping devices for textile tows areof the stufling box type, although in some instances the gear type isused. Both of these types are discussed in the patents listed above.

The tampons of the present invention can be manufactured by providing atow of continuous substantially parallel filaments as above described.The tow is subsequently bloomed or opened by methods well known in theart such for example as by the method and apparatus disclosed anddescribed in Caines et al., application Serial No. 27,091, filed May 5,1960 and now Patent No. 3,099,594. Other suitable methods and apparatusfor opening tow are disclosed and described in Patents 3,017,309;3,016,58l; 2,926,392; and 2,794,239.

After the tow has been opened, it is cut into predetermined lengthswhich will usually be equal to about twice the length of the tamponto beprepared therefrom and subsequently tying or otherwise securing aremoval cord or string to the approximate center of the cut tow wherebyall of the filaments are bound together substantially at theirmid-point. The thus tied tow is folded approximately in half andsubsequently compressed into a generally cylindrical shaped member ortampon by suitable means such for example as in a compression type moldof desired size and shape. The thus-compressed member or tampon isinserted into a hollow cylindrical container or tube with the removalcord or string extending outwardly therefrom whereby the individualtampon can be ejected from the container by a suitable positionedplunger and hence positioned in a body cavity for use. Further, and inaccordance with this invention, it has been determined that, if theindividual fibers of which the tampon of this invention is comprisedcarries thereon a relatively thin coating of a specific lubricant, theabsorption properties of the individual filaments are improved.Furthermore, the force required to expel the tampon from its hollowcylindrical container is reduced substantially. A particularly suitablelubricant for this purpose is a poly(oxyethylene glycol) having anaverage molecular weight of from about 1000 to 2000. A poly-(oxyethylene glycol) has the structural formula wherein il is an integerof a value to provide a polymeric material having a desired molecularweight. The lubricant employed can be a poly(oxyethylene glycol) havinga molecular weight of from about 1000 to 2000 or it can be a mixture ofpoly(oxyethylene glycols) of varying molecular Weights wherein theaverage of the molecular weights is from about 1000 to 2000. Aparticularly suitable compound of this type is that availablecommercially as Carbowax 1540 which has an average molecular weight offrom about 1300 to 1600 as disclosed at page 213 of the Seventh Editionof the Merck Index. The lubricant is applied during the forming of theindividual fibers of which the tow is comprised and is applied by wellknown fiber lubricating procedures. Thus, the lubricant can be appliedto the fibers by spraying, by roller application, by brush application,and, the like.

The following examples are illustrative of this invention.

EXAMPLE I Tow comprised of about 30,000 continuous cellulose acetatefilaments of about 5 denier per filament and having a C-shapecross-section similar to that shown in FIG. 1 of the drawing are openedup by means of an air jet to provide a band of the filaments of about 6inches in width. The opened tow is cut at regular intervals intosections, each having a length of about 6 inches. Each section offilaments weighs about 2.5 grams, and the tow used in this example hasabout 12 crimps per inch.

EXAMPLE II Tow comprised of about 30,000 continuous cellulose acetatefilaments of about 5 denier per filament and having a standardcross-section (similar to that shown in FIG. 7 of the drawing) areopened to provide a band of filaments about 6 inches in Width. Theopened tow is cut at regular intervals into ten. sections each having alength of about 6 inches and each section weighing about 2.5 grams. Thetow used in this example also has about 12 crimps per inch.

4 EXAMPLE III The ten sections of tow of Example I and the ten sectionsof tow of Example II are evaluated for fluid retention properties by theBasket Test. Test results show that the average amount of water retainedby the Example I sections is about 31.0 grams for each gram of sectionand the average amount of water retained by the xample II sections isabout 27.3 grams for each gram of section.

The Basket Test consists essentially of placing a section to be testedin a small cylindrical wire basket and placing the basket beneath thesurface of distilled water. After being immersed for a specified periodof time, the basket containing the sample is removed from the water,drained and then weighed. The weight of the wet section less its dryweight gives the amount of water retained. By dividing the amount ofwater retained by the dry weight of the section there is obtained theamount of water retained for each unit weight of section.

EXAMPLE IV Several tampons are made from various types of celluloseacetate continuous filament tow and tested for fluid retentionproperties. The tow has about 12 crimps per inch. The results of thesetests are set forth in Table 1 below. The tampons tested are formed byopening the tow and cutting it into 6-inch lengths. A cotton string istied at the mid-point or center of the cut length and the tied member isfolded at the center to provide a member about 3 inches long. The foldedmember is compressed in a mold into a substantially cylindrically shapedmember having a cross-sectional diameter of about 0.52

inch and a length of about 2 inches.

Samples Tested 1. 3 1. 50 0. l4 6. 9 1. 3 1. 0. 16 7. 1 1. 3 2. 00 0. 18(i. l 1. 3 2. 25 0. 20 0. 0 1. 3 2. 50 0. 22 6. 9 1. 3 1. 50 0. 14 5.51 1. 3 1. 75 0. l6 5. 23 1. 3 2. 00 0. 18 4. 02 1. 3 2. 25 0. 20 3. 11l. 3 2. 50 0. 22 3. 59

It can be readily seen, from the above test results, that the fluidretention is substantially higher for the tampon prepared from theC-shaped cross-section fibers than for the tampon prepared fromfilaments of standard cross-section. It is also apparent from the abovetest data that the fluid retention of the tampons prepared fromfilaments of C-shaped cross-section is affected much less by changes intampon density than by the tampons derived from fibers of substantiallystandard cross-section. Fluid retention properties are determined by theSyngyna test developed by G. W. Rapp, Ph. D., Professor of Biochemistryand Physiology, of the Department of Research, Loyola University,Chicago, Illinois.

EXAMPLE V Additional tampons are prepared from various weights ofcellulose acetate continuous filament tow and tested for fluid retentionin the manner employed in Example IV. These tampons are prepared insubstantially the same manner as those employed in Example IV. That is,the tow is opened and cut into lengths of about 6 inches and a cottoncord or string is tied about the midpoint of each 6-inch length. Thetied lengths are folded about the center and placed in a compressionmold where they are molded into cylindrical members. The expulsion forceor the force required to expel the tampons of this Average of 10 Iexample is measured by forcing the tampon from an applicator tube with ahydraulic cylinder and measuring the pressure required to eject it fromthe cylinder. This pressure is then converted into pounds of force. Theresults are set forth in Table 2 below.

Table 2 Cross Denier Weight of Tampon Expulsion Tampon Section of perFila- Tampon Density, Force in Fiber ment in Grams Grams/cc. Lbs.

1 C 5 1. 50 0.14 1. 37 1 C 5 1.75 0.16 1. 40 3 C 5 2.00 0.18 1.89 4 C 52. 25 0.20 2.10 5- C 5 2. 50 0. 22 2. 41 6 Standard" 5 1.50 0.14 2.06 7do 5 1. 75 0. 16 2. 77 8 do 5 2. 0. l8 3. 30 9 do 2. 25 0. 20 3. 98 10(10 5 2. 50 0. 22 3. 20

From the test results set forth in Table 2 above it can be readily seenthat the tampons prepared from fibers having a C-shaped cross-sectionhave the lowest expulsion force for a specified weight of tampon andthat the change in expulsion force for a given change in weight issmaller for the tampons prepared from the C-shaped cross-section fibersthan for the tampons prepared from fibers of standard cross-section.

EXAMPLE VI A substantially cylindrical dental plug about 1 inches inlength and having a cross-sectional diameter of about inch is preparedfrom cellulose acetate tow comprised of filaments having a substantiallyC-shape cross-section and having a denier of about 5, the total denierof the two being about 80,000. These dental plugs are prepared bywrapping these filaments in paper prepared from synthetic acrylic fibers(Orlon) and weighing about 7.8 lbs. for a ream of 500 sheets, a sheetbeing 26 -inches by 26 A -inches. Ten of these plugs are prepared. Tenother dental plugs are prepared in a similar manner with the exceptionthat the tow employed consists of filaments of standard cross-sectioninstead of filaments of C-shape cross-section. All 20 dental plugs areevaluated for fluid retention by allowing water to enter the plugs fromone side while the plug is maintained under pressure. The pressureemployed on all plugs is the same. The plugs made from the towconsisting of C-shape cross-section fibers have about 9% higher fluidretention than the samples prepared from tow consisting of filaments ofstandard cross-section.

EXAMPLE VII Tampons weighing about 2.0 grams are prepared from celluloseacetate tow containing about 20,000 filaments, each filament having adenier of about 5. The tampons are compressed in a compression chamberunder a pressure of about 2500 pounds per square inch to provide tamponshaving a cross-sectional diameter of about 0.5312 inch and a length ofabout 2.5 inches. The samples are prepared from tow comprised ofstandard crosssection filaments carrying thereon a lubricant coating ofa poly(oxyethylene glycol) having an average molecular weight of betweenabout 1300 and 1600, and other sampics are prepared from celluloseacetate tow the filaments of which have had applied thereto a mineraloil based lubricant of the type commonly applied to cellulose acetatetow. The tampons are placed in applicator tubes and allowed to remain inthe applicator tubes for about 30 days. After this time 10 tampons aretested to determine the expulsion force required to expel them from thetubes and also for their fluid retention properties. The force requiredto expel the tampons prepared from acetate tow carrying thereon theconventional lubricant is about 1.29 pounds and the fluid retention is6.21 grams of fluid for each gram of tampon. The tampons prepared fromthe acetate tow carrying thereon the poly(oxyethylene glycol) lubricantrequire an average of about one pound of force for expulsion from theapplicator tube and the fluid retention is about 6.46 grams.

per gram of tampon.

Similar results are obtained by employing C-shape cross-sectioncellulose acetate filaments in place of the standard cross-sectioncellulose acetate filaments of Example VII.

Commercially available tampons prepared from cotton fibers and weighingabout 2.40 grams are tested in a manner similar to that of Example VIIand the expulsion force required to expel the cotton tampon from itsapplicator tube Was about 0.80 and the fluid retention is about 6.30grams of fluid for each gram of tampon. The fluid retention is measuredin accordance with the test employed in Example IV.

Referring to FIG. 4 of the drawing there is shown a length of tow 20comprised of continuous synthetic resin filaments 22 of C-shapecross-section secured together substantially at its mid-point or centerby a removal cord or string 24. This member is placed in a suitablecompression mold as hereinbefore described and pressure is appliedthereto to provide a tampon of desired size, shape and density. Usually,the shape will be substantially cylindrical.

Shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawing a compressed member or tampon 30is inserted into container or outer tube member 32 with the removalstring 24 extending outwardly therefrom through an ejector or inner tubemember 34. Movement of the ejector 34 to the left as viewed in FIGS. 5and 6 will eject the tampon 30 outwardly to be inserted and positionedin a body cavity where it will receive, absorb, and retain body fluids.The tampon will flare open upon ejection from the outer tube. Othermeans known to the art can be employed to position the tampon in a bodycavity, and this invention is not limited to the specific means shownand described.

Reference is made in this specification to filaments of standardcross-section and this is defined, for the purposes of this invention,as being the cross-section derived by spinning a synthetic resinspinning solution or melt through orifices of substantially circularcross-section. Thus, for example, when cellulose acetate is solutionspun by the method of Patent 2,000,047 or by the method of Patent2,000,048 filaments having a cross-section similar to filaments 36 shownin FIG. 7 of the drawing are obtained. Melt spinning produces filamentshaving a cross-section similar to filaments 38 of FIG. 8 of the drawing.

Tampons prepared from cotton fibers are easily produced by feeding aloosely formed rod of the cotton fi bers into a machine in which thematerial is compressed to a predetermined size. The cotton plug ortampon is then placed into an applicator tube if one is to be used.Generally, as the density of the tampon or plug prepared from cotton orstandard cross-section cellulose acetate fibers is increased the amountof fluid retained thereby decreases. It has been determined, inaccordance with this invention, that tampons prepared from tow ofcellulose acetate filaments having a substantially C-shape cross-sectionhave a considerably less loss of fluid potential as the density isincreased than that shown by tampons prepared from cotton fibers or fromcellulose acetate fibers of regular cross-section.

While the above invention has been directed primarily to the preparationof tampons, it is to be understood that other members such, for example,as dental plugs, absorbent bandages, and the like can be prepared inaccordance with the teachings of this invention. Practically any memberrequired to receive, absorb, and retain body fluids therein can beprepared in accordance with the teachings of this invention.

It is to be understood that the above description,

drawing, and examples are illustrative of this invention and not inlimitation thereof.

I claim:

1. A tampon product comprised of an outer tube, an inner tube slideablypositioned therein, and a vaginal tampon capable of expulsion underreduced force of about 1 to 3.5 pounds positioned in the outer tube andbeing ejectable therefrom by moving said inner tube towards said tampon,said vaginal tampon being comprised of a plurality of continuoussynthetic filaments folded approximately in half and compressed intogenerally cylindrical tampon form selected from the group consisting ofC-shape cross-section filaments, S-shape cross-section filaments, andmixtures thereof, said filaments being of a denier of 0.1-10 andnumbering 15,000 to 50,000, be ing crimped to from 1-2 up to about 2030crimps per inch and having been prepared from tow cut into lengths ofabout twice the length of said tampon, and said tampon having a removalcord sescured thereto.

2. The article of manufacture of claim 1 wherein the filaments range indenier from 2-5, number 30,00050,- 000 and are of a C-shapecross-section cellulose acetate.

3. A tampon product comprised of an outer tube, an inner tube slideablypositioned therein, and a vaginal tampon capable of expulsion underreduced force of about 1 to 3.5 pounds positioned in the outer tube andbeing ejectable therefrom by moving said inner tube towards said tampon,said vaginal tampon being comprised of a plurality of syntheticfilaments of C-shaped and said tampon having a removal cord securedthereto,

4. The article of manufacture of claim 3 wherein the filaments range indenier from 25, number 30,00050,000 and have on the surface thereof arelatively thin coating of a polyethylene glycol of an average molecularweight of from about 1000 to 2000.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,487,200 11/49Trager 128285 2,794,239 6/57 Crawford et al 2881 2,849,000 8/58 Lewing128285 2,934,068 4/60 Graham et al. 128285 2,968,857 1/61 Swerdlotf etal. 28-81 3,016,581 1/62 Smith 1965 3,022,880 2/62 Newman 28--82 RICHARDA. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Examiner.

1. A TAMPON PRODUCT COMPRISED OF AN OUTER TUBE, AN INNER TUBE SLIDEABLYPOSITIONED THEREIN, AND A VAGINAL TAMPON CAPABLE OF EXPULSION UNDERREDUCED FORCE OF ABOUT 1 TO 3.5 POUNDS POSITIONED IN THE OUTER TUBE ANDBEING EJECTABLE THEREFROM BY MOVING SAID INNER TUBE TOWARDS SAID TAMPON,SAID VAGINAL TAMPON BEING COMPRISED OF A PLURALITY OF CONTINUOUSSYNTHETIC FILAMENTS FOLDED APPROXIMATELY IN HALF AND COMPRESSED INTOGENERALLY CYLINDRICAL TAMPON FORM SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OFC-SHAPE CROSS-SECTION FILAMENTS, S-SHAPE CROSS-SECTION FILAMENTS, ANDMIXTURES THEREOF, SAID FILAMENTS BEING OF A DENIER OF 0.1-10 ANDNUMBERING 15,00 TO 50,000, BEING CRIMPED TO FROM 1-2 UP TO ABOUT 20-30CRIMPS PER INCH AND HAVING BEEN PREPARED FROM TOW CUT INTO LENGTHS OFABOUT TWICE THE LENGTH OF SAID TAMPON, AND SAID TAMPON HAVING A REMOVALCORD SECURED THERETO.